Upon my return from the foreign mission field, I had never heard of the Acts 1:8 Challenge (A18C). A few weeks later, after I came on board at the KBC, I discovered that I was the A18C Coordinator for Kentucky! Needless to say, I had a lot to learn to get up to speed. For those of you that can relate to not knowing much about A18C, please take a few minutes to find out more about this important tool.
A18C is a biblical, simple, comprehensive, mission strategy that can be applied to any church, large or small, that will help it to fulfill its role in the Great Commission. It encompases every aspect of church life, giving direction and purpose to each activity undertaken. It is NOT another program to take up more of the pastor’s time and stir up a lot of dust, but rather an indispensable tool that will help the church be more efficient and effective. It’s something the entire church can get behind and support. A18C was developed in a joint effort between the IMB and NAMB to help churches structure themselves to be truly missional.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” NIV
Jesus’ directive is to the point: We are called by Jesus to be DELIBERATELY INVOLVED in all of the four areas:
Jerusalem: our local community or city; a place that is easily accessible to us on a day to day basis
Judea: our state or region, places that are relatively close and accessible, but not necessarily somewhere we would go on a regular basis
Samaria: our own nation; outside our region, but inside our US borders
The Ends of the Earth; everywhere outside our nation; other cultures and languages.
To be an A18C church means that as a church body you recognize the need to embrace the challenge to develop ministries in your Jerusalem (community), Judea (state), Samaria (continent), and the Ends of the Earth (world).
Jesus’ charge in Acts 1:8 to the 1st century church is no less true for the 21st century church. An Acts 1:8-focused church is not about size, staff, or even structure. Neither is it about a specific program. It’s about a church being about its core mission which is to reach the world for Christ. An Acts 1:8-focused church is more about a congregation’s passion than its percentages. It focuses more on its burden than its bigness. Christ’s mission in the world and His biblical mandate drives an Acts 1:8 church to become a worldwide missions center! (from What is an Acts 1:8 Focused Church?).
For more information on Acts 1:8 Challenge and the many ways it can help your church go to www.actsone8.com. Better yet, come to the A18C Conference nearest you the first week of April, 2009. Visit www.kybaptist.org/challenge to find out more and register on line!
